Corporate Counsel (2025-006)

Astronics Advanced Electronic Systems (AES) is seeking a Corporate Counsel to join our dynamic team in Kirkland, WA.

This is an on-site position that offers flexibility to work from home part-time, dependent on project needs.

If you're passionate about making an impact and driving innovation with a forward-thinking company that stays at the forefront of the latest technologies in the aircraft industry—and has been recognized as one of Washington's Best Places to Work for 16 consecutive years—please read on!

OVERVIEW

The Corporate Counsel at Astronics AES serves as a trusted legal advisor and strategic business partner, ensuring the Company’s activities comply with applicable laws and regulations while safeguarding its legal interests. This role goes beyond legal compliance to actively support business goals, offering proactive and practical legal advice that drives decision-making and mitigates risks.

With a primary emphasis on contracts, the Corporate Counsel is responsible for drafting, reviewing, negotiating, and enforcing a wide array of agreements, including vendor agreements, client contracts, partnership deals, and more. This role collaborates closely with leadership and various departments to facilitate seamless operations and ensure alignment between legal guidance and business strategies. The Corporate Counsel also manages contract-related disputes and works with outside counsel when specialized expertise is required.

ASTRONICS’ MANAGERIAL RESPONSIBILITY

• Protect, preserve, and enhance assets of the Company that are temporarily entrusted to you but do not belong to you.

JOB DUTIES

Strategic Leadership and Business Partnership

• Proactive Collaboration: Act as a strategic partner to management and cross-functional teams, offering actionable legal advice that supports business objectives and fosters growth.
• Strategic Planning: Collaborate with executive leadership to develop legal strategies that align with the Company’s mission, vision, and goals.
• Training and Awareness: Provide legal and compliance training to teams, ensuring awareness of relevant regulations and policies while fostering a culture of accountability and adherence.

Managerial Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Lead and mentor team members, promoting professional growth and fostering a collaborative environment that encourages innovation.
• Performance Management: Establish performance metrics for the legal function, evaluate outcomes, and continuously seek improvements to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.
• Process Improvement: Identify and implement best practices to optimize legal processes, aligning them with broader organizational objectives and enhancing both internal and external customer experiences.

Legal Counsel and Risk Management

• Contracts Management: Draft, review, negotiate, and manage various contracts, with a particular focus on commercial and defense aerospace agreements, ensuring compliance with all relevant laws and regulations.
• Regulatory Compliance: Partner with the Trade Compliance team to ensure adherence to federal, state, and international regulations, including ITAR, EAR, and DFARS.
• Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify, assess, and address legal risks associated with operations, developing strategies to protect the Company’s interests.
• Dispute Resolution: Oversee the resolution of contract-related disputes, minimizing disruption and financial exposure.

COMPETENCIES

• Strategic Thinking and Decision-Making
• Business Acumen and Process Orientation
• Communication and Influence
• Team Development and Leadership
• Legal Expertise and Risk Management
• Innovation and Continuous Improvement

EDUCATION / EXPERIENCE

Minimum Qualifications

• Education: Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school with credentials to practice in Washington State.
• Experience:
  • Minimum of 5 years of legal experience with a strong emphasis on contracts, preferably in the aerospace or defense industry.
  • At least 2 years in a managerial role, with demonstrated experience leading high-performing teams.
  • Proven ability to function as a strategic business partner, with a deep understanding of business operations and growth strategies in aerospace or similar industries.
  • Experience implementing process improvements and legal best practices.
• Skills:
  • Expert knowledge of contract law, commercial transactions, and regulatory compliance.
  • Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across all organizational levels.
  • Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Expertise in global aerospace regulations and compliance standards.
• Experience with government contracts and defense procurement processes.
• Previous in-house counsel experience at a publicly traded aerospace company.

DEVELOPMENT FOCUS

• Transition from being the technical expert to empowering others. Focus on developing team members, delegating responsibilities, and creating scalable processes that support organizational success.

EMPLOYMENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS

• As a US Department of Defense Contractor, Astronics is bound by International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR). Must be a US Person under ITAR to be eligible.
• An offer of employment is contingent on successfully passing a pre-employment background screen and drug test which includes screening for the use of cannabis.

Salary range for this position is $133,000 - $199,000 per year.

Several job-related and non-discriminatory factors including but not limited to experience in comparable roles, skill sets, training, education, licensure or certifications, other qualifications, market conditions and business needs influence actual salary offered. At Astronics AES, it is not typical for an individual to be hired at or near the top of the range.

Astronics AES offers a competitive benefits package including:

• Stay Healthy – Health, dental, vision, disability, life insurance, FSA, HSA, as well as voluntary life/AD&D, voluntary critical illness, accident prevention and hospital indemnity
• Save for the Future – 401K & Employee Stock Purchase Plan
• Find Balance – Work/life balance culture, Employee Assistance Program
• Time for You – Generous Paid Time Off, starting at 120 hours, plus 12 Paid Holidays